Method of inserting spring-loaded ball against detent

ABSTRACT

A tool for placing a ball at the lower end of a spring and in engagement with sockets of a sector member comprising a rod having a generally spherical half cavity at one end and having a slot extending from this end of the rod through the cavity and a for a substantial length along the rod whereby the ball would be initially held against the spring by placing it in the half spherical cavity of the rod and then rotating the sector member through the slot until the sector member holds the ball in place and thus enabling the tool to be removed without the ball falling out.

United States Patent [191 Ellis [451 July 29, 1975 METHOD OF INSERTING SPRING-LOADED BALL AGAINST DETENT [21] Appl. No.: 425,632

[52] U.S. Cl 29/468; 29/278 [51] Int. Cl B231] 3/00 [58] Field of Search 29/468, 225, 226, 227, 29/278, 200 H, 203 HM; 81/3 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 965,054 7/1910 Weekes 29/278 1,173,026 2/1916 Petermann 81/3 R 2,053,980 9/1936 Turner 29/278 2,077,268 4/1937 Schaefer 29/278 2,201,749 5/1940 Vandegrift 81/3 R 10/1943 McMaster 29/278 12/1952 Dawson 81/3 R Primary ExaminerC. W. Lanham Assistant Examiner-James R. Duzan [57] ABSTRACT A tool for placing a ball at the lower end of a spring and in engagement with sockets of a sector member comprising a rod having a generally spherical half cavity at one end and having a slot extending from this end of the rod through the cavity and a for a substantial length along the rod whereby the ball would be initially held against the spring by placing it in the half spherical cavity of the rod and then rotating the sector member through the slot until the sector member holds the ball in place and thus enabling the tool to be removed without the ball falling out.

1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTED JUL29I975 3,896,540

FIG. 5

FIG. 2

METHOD OF INSERTING SPRING-LOADED BALL AGAINST DETENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a method and means for inserting a ball between the lower end of a spring and a sector member having a plurality of sockets which is adapted to be locked in selected positions by a springloaded ball.

2. General Description of the Prior Art Certain automatic transmissions, particularly those employed in automobiles manufactured by the Ford Motor Company, employ a gear-selecting sector member which is latchable in two or three gear-selecting positions by a spring-loaded ball operating against a socket or in the detent sector member. The sector member is typically positioned under the lower end of a spring which holds the ball in engagement with detent or socket positions of the sector member. In repairing automobile transmissions of this type, it is frequently necessary to remove the sector member, and in replacing it, there is a considerable problem in holding the ball into position while the sector member is installed under it and in such position to engage the ball and prevent it from falling out. Heretofore, this process has typically involved one person holding the ball with two screwdrivers and another person turning the sector member until it secures the ball. This is most tedious and time-consuming and balls are not infrequently dropped and lost in the process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the object of this invention to provide a new method and means for replacing the ball as aforesaid in which the ball is initially held in a spherical cavity on the end of an elongated rod of the tool. An elongated slot extends from the end of the tool having the spherical cavity for some distance along the rod. The operation can be performed as follows. The ball is placed in a spherical cavity and in engagement with the lower end of a ball-holding vertical spring. Pressure is then applied upward to clear the sector member. Finally, the sector member is turned through the slot of the tool until the ball is secured by the sector member and the tool withdrawn.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of the tool of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an end portion of the tool shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating the method of use of the tool shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, insertion tool is formed of an elongated rod and includes ball-carrying head 12 formed at one end region 14 of the rod. A shallow ovular recess or cavity 16 is centrally formed in end region 14 of head 12 which is adapted to support a ball 18 (FIG. 3) to be inserted in a well or detent of ball-type detent sector assembly 20. A longitudinal slot 22 is centrally formed in head 12 bisecting said cavity 16 and WITICII is of a depth and width dimension so as to straddle a movable sector or bar member 24 of detent assembly 20, as shown in FIG. 3. Typically, the slot would be at least one inch in length. The tool is manipulated by a suitable hand grip 26, formed inward of opposite end 28 of the rod, which is provided with a suitable gripping surface such as a hexagonal formation as shown in FIG. 1 or knurled surface, etc., not shown. Hand grip 26 is joined to head 12 by an intermediate shank 30 which is preferrably of reduced diameter so as to facilitate movement of the tool in confined spaces.

FIG. 3 illustrates how ball 18 is supported by tool 10 so as to enable engagement with movable sector 24 of detent assembly 20. Detent assembly 20 includes rotable sector plate 24, the outer circular surface 32 of which normally rotates in close proximity to vertically disposed ball well 34 formed in stationary frame 36 of assembly 20. Compression spring 38, inserted in well 34, urges ball 18 into contact with sector plate 24 which is selectively retained at three separate positions wherein ball 18 is engaged in one of three separate detents a, b, and c.

In order to insert ball 18 into a well 34, sector plate 24 is first rotated counterclockwise to the position shown in FIG. 3 so that right edge 40 of sector plate 24 is displaced to the left of well 34. A thin coating of a suitably tacky lubricant, not shown, is applied to the inner wall of retainer socket 16, which is adapted to hold the ball temporarily once it is placed in socket 16 as shown in FIG. 3.

Compression spring 38 is then inserted in well 34 and ball 18 is pressed against the exposed end of spring 38, forcing the ball into well 34. Tool 10 is then manipulated so that sector plate 24 can be engaged through slot 22 when it is rotated in a clockwise direction as illustrated in FIG. 3 wherein a portion 42 of sector plate 24 is shown as so positioned.

Once a portion of the outer surface 32 of sector 24 is in this position, pressure on the tool is relaxed, allowing ball 18 to be engaged with sector 24. A slight further clockwise rotation of sector 24 then securely engages ball 18 with detent a and installation is complete.

What is claimed is: 1. The process for installing a ball against the lower end of a spring in a vertical well, which combination of spring and ball are adapted to latch at selected positions a pivoted sector member having at least one cooperating socket, which comprises:

providing a tool including an elongated rod having at one end a curved, ovular cavity approximating the contour of said ball and an elongated slot extending from said one end;

placing the ball in said curved cavity and with the sector member turned out of engagement with and clear of said spring, positioning said tool so that said ball is held up against said spring; while so holding said ball, rotating said sector member through said slot until said ball rests and is supported by a socket of said sector member and;

removing said tool after said sector engages and holds said ball. 

1. The process for installing a ball against the lower end of a spring in a vertical well, which combination of spring and ball are adapted to latch at selected positions a pivoted sector member having at least one cooperating socket, which comprises: providing a tool including an elongated rod having at one end a curved, ovular cavity approximating the contour of said ball and an elongated slot extending from said one end; placing the ball in said curved cavity and with the sector member turned out of engagement with and clear of said spring, positioning said tool so that said ball is held up against said spring; while so holding said ball, rotating said sector member through said slot until said ball rests and is supported by a socket of said sector member and; removing said tool after said sector engages and holds said ball. 